Swimmer drowns in Lake Summit; search to resume Tuesday morning

Published: Monday, June 17, 2013 at 9:08 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, June 17, 2013 at 9:08 p.m.

GREEN RIVER — A swimmer who jumped off train trestles and was attempting to swim to the dam at Lake Summit drowned Monday evening, and recovery efforts were suspended as severe weather hit the area.

Emergency personnel were called to the lake at about 6:45 p.m. Green River Volunteer Fire Department Chief Bobby Dotson said a group of swimmers jumped off the trestles and was swimming toward the dam when one of them got a cramp and went under. He did not know the victim's age.

Divers went into the water and rescue personnel in boats used scanners to scour the lake, but they were unable to find anything Monday night, Dotson said.

With a storm moving in at 9 p.m., they decided to call off the operation so no one would get hurt, the chief added. The search should resume this morning at about 8 a.m.

“It is a recovery effort at this time with a severe storm coming,” Maj. Frank Stout with the Henderson County Sheriff's Office said just after 9 p.m.

No notification of kin had been made, Stout added.

In addition to Green River and the Sheriff's Office, Saluda Fire and Rescue, the Henderson County Rescue Squad and Henderson County EMS responded.

<p>GREEN RIVER — A swimmer who jumped off train trestles and was attempting to swim to the dam at Lake Summit drowned Monday evening, and recovery efforts were suspended as severe weather hit the area. </p><p>Emergency personnel were called to the lake at about 6:45 p.m. Green River Volunteer Fire Department Chief Bobby Dotson said a group of swimmers jumped off the trestles and was swimming toward the dam when one of them got a cramp and went under. He did not know the victim's age. </p><p>Divers went into the water and rescue personnel in boats used scanners to scour the lake, but they were unable to find anything Monday night, Dotson said. </p><p>With a storm moving in at 9 p.m., they decided to call off the operation so no one would get hurt, the chief added. The search should resume this morning at about 8 a.m.</p><p>“It is a recovery effort at this time with a severe storm coming,” Maj. Frank Stout with the Henderson County Sheriff's Office said just after 9 p.m. </p><p>No notification of kin had been made, Stout added. </p><p>In addition to Green River and the Sheriff's Office, Saluda Fire and Rescue, the Henderson County Rescue Squad and Henderson County EMS responded.</p><p>Reach Weaver at emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>